Parents evening, should I complain about this teacher

As others have said, this really isn't the HoY's area. Unless you're just suggesting you should email the HoY because you know their email address?

It's very likely they will just go to the teacher, and say "can you answer this question?" and the teacher will either answer it or continue with their non-answer as before.

The HoD is much more likely to be able to give you an answer and decide if there are any concerns with the teacher's answer- but I would just add parents evenings can be very tricky, and without knowing what the question was, I do wonder if it's something it was awkward for the teacher to answer, hence deflecting and talking about their own children?

I know I've said silly things to parents in the past when asked a question I didn't feel comfortable answering for all sorts of reasons (although in some cases, they probably read between the lines of what I was saying).

What exactly do you want to happen by complaining? Do you want the teacher to get told off? Put on capabilities? Just email the school office FAO teacher’s name with your questions, then complain if you don’t get sufficient answers.

I’m not sure why the HOY needs to be involved. Respectfully, as a HOY, mediating a disgruntled parent who didn’t get all the answers in a meeting wouldn’t be high on my to do list. It’s hard to judge whether the teacher was being unprofessional or not by not providing the questions OP.

Why don't you just email the teacher with your questions?

I mean don't be so unpleasant. Maybe she was sharing to help in some way. Time is short. Ask to check in with her again.
DONT put it on an email !!

Why didnt you say something at the time?

I think you’re being a bit over the top to be so intent on wanting to complain about this. Ok; so maybe you weren’t overly happy with the responses you got. Do you really think the teacher was purposely trying to piss you off? Have you ever considered you might have a face of thunder or a horrible attitude and she felt nervous and was genuinely just trying to be friendly and connect on some level to try appear like she’s down to earth and understands? I highly doubt she was trying to upset you. I think you’d look like a complete Pratt if you make a complaint over this. Just email and ask the questions about your son- but there’s a high chance you still won’t get the answer you were hoping for. I get the feeling you just didn’t hear what you wanted to hear- so it’s time to try take the teacher down. I can assure you; whoever you complain to- will laugh at your email behind closed doors if you take the nasty/bitter route.

Yet another person who excuses the inappropriate behaviour of a teacher by calling it a "teacher bash". Yawn

(and I am a teacher)

Another teacher bash. Yawn.

Chill out. Teachers are humans and not robots. Just e mail and say there were a few things you forgot to ask and wondered if you could catch up at some point. My husband and son drive me mad with my son’s maths reacher as they all sit and natter about rugby at parents evening. I would though say we have known him for 10 years as he has taught all my kids and know that if there was an issue he would give us a ring and we can e mail any time.

It sounds to me as if the teacher answered your question and you didn’t like / understand her response so she used her own kids to try and make you see. It would help if you told us what the question was or at least the gist of it!

Yes, it is inappropriate. For a 5 minute appointment the teacher should tell you 1) how your child has been behaving overall 2) what he/she has done well 3) what your child needs to work on.

I would email the school, for the attention of the teacher, and ask the questions you want answered specifically and ask for a conversation to receive the answers.

also, you listened politely and I generally listen politely too, but when it’s a 5 minute appointment I would intervene and say, ‘oh we only have 4 mins left’.

Indeed. I think some posters seriously have no clue about just what a HOY needs to do all day if they think they've got time for mediating between a subject teacher and a parent over a trivial matter such as this. Don't be that knob who takes up a HOY's time with this, when they have MUCH more important things to do.

I wouldn’t complain to be honest, ask for some feedback via email and if it happens again just politely turn the conversation to what you want to know

Same here.

It's almost like there's a obvious solution to get further clarity on the question asked that involves sending a quick email to the teacher.

I wouldn’t complain to be honest, ask for some feedback via email and if it happens again just politely turn the conversation to what you want to know

From the tone of this thread maybe the teacher feels uncomfortable and as others have said was just filling the shape with chat it can be so difficult being able to get things across in the 5 minutes. Teachers are human and cannot be expected to be perfect 100% of the time if you’re thinking about complaining about this then maybe she was not sure what to say and was uncomfortable. Email her with the questions don’t complain.
9% of the teaching profession left last year, not to retire but to leave the profession because it’s impossible to live up to the standards expected from everybody every single second of the day.

‘Clear the air…support to both parties’

That’s a little over the top I think. An email is fine. HOY and teachers are extremely busy - I’m not sure a disgruntled parent after a disappointing parents’ evening warrants such intervention. Safeguarding, bullying, academic issues, behaviour problems are just a few reasons which would have priority for a meeting.

Remember secondary teachers often teach well over a 100 students a week.

OP - do email and I hope you get the information you are looking for.

I find you rude. Just because you decide to use abbreviation, does not mean that everyone has to follow suit and agree with that? Have never seen anyone abbreviate that! Head of year should clear the air and offer support to both parties in this situation.
have you helped/worked in a school? As I am talking from experience here.
do you go and comment to everyone who dares repeat something someone else has said? That’s the whole point of this thread isn’t it? (Or any other thread here) to get repeat advice so you decide what to do based on that.

You have literally used the term head of year in your last post which was quoted. You couldn't work it out from that?! Seriously?

again as in not the first person to suggest it. Again as in what do you think the head of year has to do with a subject teachers reporting at parents evening?

What is HOY?! Not sure what you mean by ‘again’ either 🤷‍♀️

Again, why the HOY?!

Yes; that’s not appropriate at all, unless you asked about their kids. Email the teacher, copy head of year and request a follow up meeting.

Speak to the teacher direct, complaining up the chain is well wet

The teacher took over the meeting, I would be annoyed too! I think it would be best to take a pragmatic approach and not make an issue of it, as others have said. Follow-up with an email (asking your questions).

A teacher responding to that question with that example about their own children having been fine would indeed be inappropriate and unhelpful.